Priest pleads not guilty to new sexual abuse charges

A Roman Catholic priest from Bolivia pleaded not guilty Friday to new charges that he sexually abused a west suburban boy and attempted to abuse the boy's older brother.

Rev. Alejandro Flores, 37, was arraigned on nine new counts brought earlier this month by a Kane County grand jury.

The priest was already facing seven felony counts brought in January, alleging that he assaulted a St. Charles boy beginning in 2005 when the child was 8.At the time, Flores was a seminarian assigned to a West Chicago parish and had become friends with the boy's family, who were church members, according to authorities.

Friday's court appearance drew three members of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests. The women, wearing buttons that said "Children First," said they were there as a show of support to the alleged victims and their family.

Flores remained in custody Friday in the Kane County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail.